Hosting a durian night that people remember
A durian night is the easiest dinner party you will ever host — there is no cooking, no plating and no small-talk gap once the first box opens. But a little planning turns a good session into one people talk about for weeks.
How much to order
Our rule of thumb: 300 to 400 grams of packed flesh per person. Newcomers eat less than they expect; regulars always eat more. For a mixed group of six, two boxes of Mao Shan Wang plus one box of Red Prawn covers every palate at the table.
What to serve alongside
Keep it plain. Cool water is the classic pairing — some old-timers swear by drinking it from the emptied husk. Mangosteen is the traditional cooling counterpoint. What to avoid: alcohol, heavy fried food and anything that competes with the durian's richness.
The tidy-up trick
Newspaper. Lay three sheets over the table before you start, and roll the whole thing up when you are done — seeds, husks and all. Wash hands with a rub of the husk's inner white pith under running water to kill the smell, then soap as usual. Your kitchen survives untouched.
The best durian nights end with everyone too full to move and nobody wanting to leave.
